1958 Map of Butte

About this map

The town of Butte serves as the central hub of this mid-century survey, situated at the intersection of a grid-iron street plan and the Minneapolis St Paul and Sault Ste Marie rail line. The surrounding landscape in McLean County is defined by a dense concentration of small glacial potholes and wetlands, punctuated by the prominent elevation of Dogden Butte in the west. This terrain character is reflected in the establishment of the Cottonwood Lake National Wildlife Refuge in the northeast, protecting the waters of Cottonwood Lake. Land use patterns are further established by civil townships like Olivia, Aurena, and Byersville, with rural infrastructure evidenced by School No 4 and local Gravel Pits. The map captures the Missouri River Basin development era, showing a transition between concentrated town life and a highly fragmented prairie wetland environment.